Chapter 21: Zinq of Witts
(Intro)
Rayona was working non-stop lately. She's been preparing meals and learning new cuisines all throughout the Hub. Even during practice, she's been thinking up new combinations for her Steaming Wok. This didn't go unnoticed by the others. As she exited the Steaming Wok to get a drink of water, the others walked up to her. "Hey, Rayona. You doing okay there?" Vert asked. "Sure. I'm doing great, Vert. Why do you ask?" Rayona asked. "Well, it's just that…well…" Vert tried to say. "For the past few days, you've been overworking yourself." Agura said. "Yeah. You've been preparing all of our meals, learning about new cuisines, thinking up new combinations, you're really pushing yourself, luv." Stanford said. "What they said. Why is that, Ray?" Olivia asked. Rayona sighed, knowing that they had to know. "Well, guys, it's just that…ever since our encounter with our evil doppelgangers and learning about the Astral Realm, I just want to be prepared just in case…I'm next." She explained. "Next?" Spinner asked in confusion. "Next for what?" Ivan asked. "Next to unlock her Zodiac powers and awaken her past life." Vert said. "That's right. I want to be ready in case it happens." Rayona said. "Well, at the rate you're going, it'll be bound to happen soon, I think." Olivia said. "I hope you're right." Rayona said.
Meanwhile, in the Sark World, Zemerik was overseeing the completion of his latest creation. It was a new Sark robot, female model with wire-y hair. "Behold, the newest addition to our team." He announced as the new Sark robot came online. "Greetings, Lord Zemerik. I am Zinq." The Sark, Zinq, greeted. "Welcome to the team, Zinq. Tell me, what have you been programmed with?" Zemerik asked. "Simple. I have been programmed with all the data regarding our mortal enemies, the organics." Zinq said. "And how will we intend to do that?" Zemerik asked. "By using their weak points against them. I have knowledge of all their known weaknesses and their vehicles. And with my programmed photographic reflexes, you will never lose to the organics again." Zinq explained. "Excellent. Prepare yourself for your first mission, Zinq. Once the next Stormshock opens, the organics will have no chance against us and Earth will be ours to conquer!" Zemerik declared.
Meanwhile, back in the Hub, Vert explained Rayona's situation to Sage. "Hmm, yes, I have seen how hard Rayona has been working. Preparing in case her Zodiac powers start to awaken." Sage said. "Yes, that's what she said. But I'm worried that she's pushing herself too much." Vert said. "I understand your worries, Vert. But remember, you must learn that when some things have a lot of time to awaken. Remember how long it took for us to reunite after all these years?" Sage asked, taking Vert's hands. "Yeah, maybe you're right. I just don't want to see her get hurt." Vert said. Just then, Sage's eyes glowed. "I sense a Stormshock opening." She said. "I'll get the team together." Vert said. "Tread carefully, Vert. I sense something dark about this. The Battle Zone could be a trap." Sage warned as Vert took off.
Vert rounded up Olivia, Iguanarox, Agura, Sherman and Spinner, Stanford, Grace, Ivan, Zug and Rayona, and they all drove out towards the Stormshock's location in the Salt Flats. "Get ready, team. It's storm-riding time!" Vert said. "Hopefully, a little excitement in a Battle Zone can help me." Rayona said. They entered the Stormshock and crossed through the portal.
Battle Force 10 crossed through the portal and ended up in a dark wasteland zone of some kind. "Whoa. What kind of Battle Zone is this?" Grace asked. "I'm not sure, but it doesn't look very welcoming." Ivan said. "Alright, guys, let's find that Battle Zone and not stay here any longer than we have to." Vert said. As they drove off to look for the Battle Key, something watched them from the shadows nearby.
Meanwhile, at the same time, the Sark had just entered the Battle Zone. "Well, Zinq, are you ready for your first mission?" Zemerik asked. "Affirmative, Lord Zemerik. My Zawblade is operational and ready for battle." Zinq said, preparing her vehicle, the Zawblade. "Excellent. Find the Battle Key and prepare for organic encounter." Zemerik said as they drove off.
As Battle Force 10 searched for the key, Olivia and Stanford sensed something in the air. "You sense that, Stan?" Olivia asked. "Yes, indeed. Whatever it is, it's something very, very evil." Stanford said. "Whatever you guys are sensing, we're detecting it on our radar." Spinner said. "It's a very unusual energy. But like you said, Stanford, it's very evil." Sherman said. "Whatever it is, it'll have to wait. We've got company." Vert said as he spotted the Sark. Zemerik cackled as his Sark warriors prepared for battle. "Sark, attack the organics!" He ordered. The Zurk drove towards the team. "Battle Force 10, let's send these robotic rejects to the scrapyard." Vert ordered. The team readied their weapons and drove into battle. "One side! Yee-haw!" Olivia cheered as she jetted through a few Zurk. Iguanarox fired his spines, piercing one of the Zurks. "I always wondered how a Sark would look with piercings." He joked. As Stanford fired his sonic blasts at Zug 2.0, knocking him down, he nearly got sliced by a fired sawblade. "What was that?!" He asked in shock. "Ah, it looks like Zemerik just brought a new playmate." Rayona said, noticing the Zawblade. "I am Zinq, Lord Zemerik's newest humble servant. I possess vast knowledge of you organics." Zinq introduced. "I doubt it. You're just another Sark who's about to get scrapped." Agura said. "If you say so, Zodiac Virgo." Zinq said.
Agura drove the Tangler towards Zinq, ready to crush her with the claws. But Zinq managed to dodge the claws and slash the couplings with her blades. That attack caused the Tangler's driving function to disable. "Argh! Not good! My drive function's disabled!" Agura exclaimed with worry. "Don't worry, luv. We'll get her." Stanford said. As the rest of the team drove towards Zinq, Rayona held back, knowing that this new Sark was way too smart. She watched in horror as Zinq defeated her friends with her vast knowledge of each of them, one by one. "She's way too smart. I gotta get her away from the others." She said. She revved up her Steaming Wok and drove into Zinq when she least expected it, knocking them both over a nearby cliff. "Rayona!" Vert cried. Zemerik cackled. "I would've expected such heroism from one of your own. But now it's time to end our battle, claim the Battle Key and conquer Earth!" He declared. Suddenly, before the battle could continue, there was a loud shriek in the air. "What was that?" Spinner asked in worry. "Oh no. I know that sound." Vert said in dread. Everyone turned their heads to see an army of giant black spider creatures with skull-like masks.
Meanwhile, Rayona groaned as she started to recover. "What happened?" She asked herself. Just then, she saw Zinq in her Zawblade. "Oh. Now I remember." She said, glaring at the new Sark general. "Ah, at long last. Rayona Singh, reincarnation of Zodiac Cancer. Of all the organics I was programmed to know, you fascinated me most of all." Zinq said as they prepared to stand-off. "I should be flattered, but I'm not. Because knowing everything about me and my friends doesn't make you superior to us." Rayona said. "Illogical. Machines are beyond superior to organic lifeforms. And I will prove it by destroying you." Zinq said, firing up her Zawblade. "Bring it." Rayona dared. Suddenly, there was a loud shriek near them. "What was that?" Zinq asked. They turned around a saw a bigger spider creature standing before them, shrieking.
Meanwhile, Battle Force 10 and the Sark were battling the spider creatures. "Uh, Vert? You said that you knew that sound these things made! You know what these things are?!" Grace asked as she washed a few away with her Zodiac powers. "I'm afraid so. We fought them in our past lives. They're Omentaurs." Vert said in fear. That made the team freeze up in horror. "Omentaurs? I have not heard tale of them in so long." Iguanarox said. "And these are no ordinary Omentaurs. These are Widow Killers!" Agura said, remembering these creatures. "I remember our last encounter with these unruly beasts. The day we were destroyed." Stanford said, blasting several Widow Killers with his sonic blasts. "There were so many. Different forms of those monsters." Spinner said in fear.
[Flashback]
The Zodiac Guardians stood together as they faced an entire army of thousands of Omentaurs, big and small. Behind the Omentaurs stood a group of dark hooded figures. The one in the middle motioned his left arm, holding a double-edged sword, ordering the army to attack. The giant Widow Killer Queen stood on its back legs and let out a loud shriek.
[Flashback End]
"Destroy the beasts! Find the Battle Key!" Zemerik ordered as he, Zug 2.0 and the Zurk battled the Widow Killers. "Vert, we've got to stop these things and Zemerik, find Rayona and get the Battle Key." Olivia said. "I know. But we also need to find out where Rayona and the key are." Vert said.
Meanwhile, the giant Widow Killer Queen glared at Rayona and Zinq, preparing to attack them. Suddenly, Rayona detected something on her scanner. "What's this? I'm getting a reading on the Battle Key. It's inside that Widow Killer Queen's cave." She said, realizing. "Mission is secure. Obtain the Battle Key for the Invasion of Earth." Zinq said, firing up her Zawblade. "Zinq, no, don't!" Rayona exclaimed. But Zinq ignored her and engaged the Widow Killer Queen. She attacked with her saw, but the Widow Killer blocked it with its front right leg. Zinq looked on with shock as the saw didn't cut through its leg. "Impossible! This creature's legs are somehow hard as steel. My Zawblade cannot cut through them." She said as she checked her scans. The Widow Killer Queen shrieked as it began attacking. Rayona watched as Zinq and the Widow Killer Queen fought. Her heart began racing increasingly, more than ever before. She gave a shout as her eyes started to glow jade green.
[Rayona's Mind]
Rayona gasped as she found herself in a muddy land. She held her hand over her heart as she looked around. She saw nothing but mud. There were crabs, lobsters and crawdads building their nests everywhere. "Beautiful, aren't they?" A voice asked. Rayona turned around and saw her, her past life, Zodiac Cancer. "Crustaceans always prefer living in between land and water. They were kinda created that way." Cancer explained. "You're Zodiac Cancer, my past life. I am greatly honored to meet you." Rayona said, giving a traditional Indonesian greeting. "It is I who is honored to meet you, Rayona. You've worked so hard, hoping that your powers would reawaken. Well, all of your hard work is about to be paid off, my friend." Cancer explained as she showed Rayona a vision.
[Vision]
Cancer used her powers to create and command monsters made from mud. She also summoned an army of crustaceans. The mud monsters and crustaceans fought against the forces of darkness. During the battle, as she came into contact with a bigger Omentaur. As it charged towards her, she transforms into a giant crab monster and started to battle it.
[Vision End]
Rayona gasped as the vision ended. The symbol of Cancer appeared on her forehead, glowing jade. "It's time to fight." She said.
[Battle Zone]
The Widow Killer Queen swatted the Zawblade aside. "Ugh! This beast is formidable. There appears to be no logical way to beat it." Zinq groaned. Suddenly, as Rayona shouted from her Steaming Wok, a giant monster made out of mud formed right out the ground and let out a giant roar. The Widow Killer Queen turned around as the mud monster attacked it. "Potential opening. While the spider fights the mud monster, the Battle Key is vulnerable for Sark hands." Zinq said. She got out of her Zawblade and walked towards the cave entrance. "Hey, bolt bag." Rayona said, grabbing Zinq's shoulder. Zinq turned around as Rayona covered her right fist in hardened mud and punched her hard, sending her flying. "ORGANIC!" Zinq screamed as she disappeared into the distance. "Don't mess with Cancer." Rayona said. As the mud monster continued fighting the Widow Killer Queen, it got its arms around the Widow Killer Queen's neck and strangled it hard. As the Widow Killer Queen struggled to get free, the mud monster squeezed its neck harder and broke its neck, killing it. "Now let's get us a Battle Key." Rayona said.
Meanwhile, the Widow Killers have already dealt with the Sark, and Battle Force 10 was doing their best to fight them off. "There's too many! We're not going to make it!" Spinner cried. "Keep at them! We gotta find Rayona and the Battle Key!" Vert ordered. "Hey, Vert. You actually missed me?" Rayona asked over the com-link. "Rayona! You're okay." Olivia said in relief. "I sure am. And I got some major backup coming your way." Rayona said. Suddenly, the mud monster leapt up from the bottom of the cliff and started attacking the Widow Killers. "Uh, where did that mud monster come from?" Spinner asked in shock. "If I had to take a guess, it was probably created by Rayona's Zodiac powers." Sherman deduced. "You got that right, Sherman." Rayona said as she drove up. "Rayona, were you able to find the Battle Key?" Vert asked. "I did. I had quite the fight with a Widow Killer Queen for it." Rayona said. "Alright then, team, let's head home and lock it down." Vert ordered. The team started driving back towards their portal, but Rayona stayed for a bit and looked at her mud monster. "Thanks for the help…old friend." She said before driving off to catch up with the others.
Later, after returning to Earth and locking down the Battle Zone, the team returned to the Hub and gave the key to Sage. "A Battle Zone filled with Omentaurs?! I sensed that it could've been a trap. I haven't seen any Omentaurs since the day your past lives died." Sage said, placing the key with the Mist Fog Key, locking it away from the others. "I remember some of how we died, but not a lot." Vert said. "I remember it all. It was a dark day, Vert. Aries and the Zodiac Guardians were outnumbered by the forces of darkness. Before you perished in my arms, you used the last of your powers to send your spirit and your team's into the future so they would be reincarnated. If you hadn't done that, I never would've seen you again." Sage explained sadly. Vert brought her into a comforting hug.
Later, the team, minus Iguanarox and Zug, were celebrating at Zeke's diner. "There you go, gang. On the house for coming back alive from an awful Battle Zone." Zeke said, whispering the last part. "Thanks, Zeke." Vert said. "Speaking of action, check it out. More news on Copper Canyon." Zeke said, gesturing to the TV. "And recent footage indicated that a young Copper Canyon local dressed up like a ninja was causing panic and mayhem in the streets." The anchorman said, showing footage of a teenage boy wearing a ninja mask, wielding a ninja sword, causing chaos in Copper Canyon. "Hey, we know that kid." Vert said. "Yeah, that's one of Max's quintuplet cousins, Zad Ferrus." Olivia said. "But why's he causing all that chaos in a ninja mask?" Stanford asked. "Hmm. I sense something. He's surrounded in an orange aura." Zoom said, sensing an aura on Zad. "Yeah, I sense it too. It's like he's possessed." Olivia said. "Man, what other weird things are happening out there in Copper Canyon?" Vert asked. The team thought about it with curiosity.
Oh, man. How was that for intense? Rayona's been training with hope that she'd trigger her past life's powers in the future. And as they entered the next Battle Zone, they discovered a whole bunch of different surprises. Zemerik has a new addition to his team, a brainiac Sark named Zinq. And the Battle Zone was filled with spider Omentaurs known as Widow Killers. During her fight with Zinq and the Widow Killer Queen, Rayona unlocked her Zodiac powers and summoned an army of mud monsters to fight the Widow Killers. And after securing the Battle Key, they locked it up with the Mist Fog Key. But other evils and surprises await Battle Force 10? Will they uncover the mysteries happening in Copper Canyon? Leave a review if you want.